Bristol care home makes football fan’s dream come true

A resident at a care home in Bristol has had his long-held wish fulfilled with a pitch-perfect outing to watch his favourite football team play.

When the team at Care UK’s Trymview Hall, on Southmead Road in Westbury-on-Trym, heard about John Coletto’s desire to cheer on his beloved Bristol City from the stands once again, they set about giving him the full fan experience.

John, 76, has been a lifelong fan of the Robins and frequently attended matches at the club’s home ground in his younger years. 

On the day of the visit, John enjoyed the full VIP experience, with a meal at Ashton Gate and catching up with friends before watching Bristol City vs Birmingham City FC, with Bristol taking home the win, scoring 1-0. 

John said: “I felt very overwhelmed having the VIP treatment and being back in my old club.  It was lovely!”

Nicole Anderson, Home Manager at Trymview Hall, said: “We always like to go the extra mile for residents here and make their wishes come true – no matter how big, small or unusual. John speaks so fondly of the many years he’s spent supporting Bristol City, so we were really excited to be able to make his wish of returning to the stadium come true. 

“John was thrilled when we surprised him and he was so excited to be back at Ashton Gate. It was fantastic to see John enjoying the visit, and we were pleased to be able to give him the opportunity to reminisce at a place that has meant so much to him since his childhood.”

Trymview Hall is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The building incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities, and includes its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.